A collection of things

Someday I would like to start a museum of all the strange things we get as teachers.  Precious treasures our students feel we cannot live with out.

This year has been full of my ever-growing Sponge Bob sticker collection, an insurmountable amount of gum (odd choice but hey...), 3 apples, Halloween candy, clay figures, pictures, letters, coloring pages, a handful of sunflower seeds left on my desk, a unicorn stuffed animal, and a promise of a lifetime supply of coffee for my birthday (too bad that's in the summer...).

My pockets have also come home laden with goodies.  I have confiscated more silly bands than I even want to count (between those and the rubber bands I am sure I could have the ever-so-fashionable bracelets up my entire forearm), toy cars, a sucker, bouncy ball, and silly band rings (seriously RINGS?? what have teachers ever done to anyone to deserve such cruelty?  When necklaces come out...someone is going down!).

Along side all of the treasures displayed and continuing to grow, soon to over take my desk, is the most beautiful collection of things.  As a school, we have been collecting books to give to a school in Kenya with a library that is virtually non-existent.  As books began to trickle in, and we selected books from our own library we wanted to share with the world, my students overwhelmed me with their hearts.  Books pile and pile and not merely with old books but with favorites.  The very books they treasure are the ones they are giving.  Giving not out of access but compassion.  It is a truly beautiful sight to see.  It is said, "out of the mouths of babes"  but today I one-up that to "out of the hearts."

Captivating...

Slavery: as Americans, it is a part of our past we shudder at the thought of, simultaneously, a part of our history that we have to own.  I think most people groups have a thread of something woven into their tapestry that they would rather forget, but there is great value in remembrance.  We shudder at the thought of this dark past we are forced to claim.  It is sick, it is inhumane but the sad truth is... it's not finished.


History class: where most of us memorized date after date of "significant events" decided by some person of importance drove most of us to be excellent time keepers (as we counted the seconds, minutes, hours left until class came to an end).  In my opinion, the true value of history class does not reside in the dates, but in the lessons learned by the experiences of our ancestors.

The Present: as in today. Injustice pervades this broken Earth we live on, and it is probable that one could write for years upon years about all the horrors Earth faces today.  The most powerful way to fight these injustices is education, but it's time to get out of our history books and into our current events.  Slavery is still prevalent and something that we as a nation need to be aware of.  If you don't already know, human trafficking is a worldwide epidemic (check out Not For Sale, International Justice Mission, Compassion International. Come Let's Dance).  Let us not take our freedom for granted, our liberty allows us to fight for that same freedom in the lives of others across the globe and surprisingly in some of our own backyards.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness: the American dream.  Free at last, free at last, praise God Almighty we are free at last!  We are not to live life in chains. Galatians 5:1 says,"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."  Let nobody not bound to this world, not its riches, not its depths. We are not to be held captive to anything, not in the least.

Platforms

Nearing November 2, there is always a heightened awareness to politics.  The question is always asked, "What is your platform? What do you stand for?"  When we think about most uses of the word platform describe as a foundation, indicating a firm base to stand on.  One of the interesting ways I found the word platform used was as a computer term.  Platforms were defined as an architecture or framework that allows something to run.

Being a person of a passionate nature, I often have opinions about topics and beliefs: my platform.  But frequently I wonder if our opinions just remain as something firm to stand upon?  One of my dear friends, Krisi Johnson, shared this link with me, Why I Fight.  It is a beautiful picture of a couple, obedient to God's calling, who did not stand firm but is allowing something to run.  Their project is about a passion I shared (immigration), and I sat there in class moved almost to tears (but refrained because then I would have to understand the reason for the tears and admit that my attention was not on her scattered palaver about backwards design in curriculum).

Today I am asking the questions, how can we live in a way that our convictions and passions are not merely claims but a way of life?

So, I am curious, what organizations do you value and think are worthwhile to invest in?  Post the links here!  Let's rally behind important things together.

I started my list:
Red Rocks Church : My church, who does an awesome job of being
Denver Public Schools: How I get to serve an incredible population of underprivileged group of kiddos
Tennyson Center for Children: a faith based safe house for kids in rough family situations I go to with my bible study
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation:  discovering ways to help cure type 1 diabetes
National Association for Bilingual Education: advocating for and educating about bilingual education

Throw me a freaking bone

Shocking title...I know.  This is the reality of life though. We are not promised easy and we are never told we have to pretend it is all good.  This blog can be kind of like the Psalms.  I love King David and his ability to say the most profound awestruck lyrics about God.  When we are in those moments where life takes our breath away by its beauty and we are left without a single thing to even mutter, there is a Psalm.  Consequently, in the midst of great sorrow or hardship (which no life is void of), that same King writes, and there is a Psalm.

Ever been in a season of life where the strains and the demands of those around you pile up like the trash can of a college student? Everyone walks by and adds a little something and knowing that like Jenga, eventually that one piece on top will just make the whole thing topple over.  I think this is a season everyone can relate to.  While enduring the balancing act, eventually there is a cry to just stop. 

It is hard to deny the unfairness of people's situations in a fallen world as the news bombards us with stories of wars, murders, house evictions, natural disasters and our friends share heart wrenching stories of the broken things in their life.  My heart goes out to those who are living in situations where life just isn't giving them a break.   So let's cry, let's mourn, let's pore out our hurts, struggles and fears.

...but then let's praise.  There is hope, there is purpose.  Within our struggle there is triumph, from our pain comes beauty. 

Hebrews 12:1-13 says
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.  And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons.  My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.  Endure hardship as a discipline; God is treating you as his sons.  For what son is not disciplined by his father?  If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.  Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it.  How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.  Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.  Make level paths for your feet, so that they lame may not be disabled, but rather, healed." (emphasis mine)

There is nothing left to say to life but: BRING. IT. ON. 

God of this city

If you know me, you know my love for the world, traveling and especially Latin America.  On Friday, I got to go to a concert with Saundie to help raise money for a mission trip at our church.  The group is going to Guatemala and as I watched the video about their plans for the trip and heard the stories of the couple who is planning on moving to the site to start a church.  I must admit that I was slightly envious. All throughout college, I was certain that I was meant to live, and serve there.  My heart yearns for a great story to be told about the life I lead and missionary life sounds so glamorous (in that I gave up my comforts for Christ kinda way).  I sat during the concert and wondered if I was where I was supposed to be? Denver? Colorado? Where the poorest are often richer than the middle class among other countries surrounding us? Where everything is at our fingertips? Where I can live a privileged life?  Shouldn't a devout Christian be living in the desert eating locusts like John the Baptist?

I listen to this song and I am reminded of the plan and purpose God has for me here.  About five months ago, before I retreated to another summer of camp, I was given a clear instruction.  Kirsten, you are here. I need you here.  God put such a call on my heart for beginning a Spanish ministry here, at my church, in a creepy theme park where no one even speaks Spanish, except my friend Roberto who I tricked into coming. So far, the Spanish ministry is me and him, but the Lord blesses those who wait, entonces aqui espero. 

The waiting place is not my favorite place to be but it is essential.  The semillitas (seeds) have been planted but even someone with the blackest of thumbs could tell you that they cannot be harvested the next day.  Paul talks about this in Romans 1:13a "I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you..." Many times we know exactly what we need to do and then we are asked to wait.  During this time, God is growing a crop and working the fields so that the harvest may be great.

Mientras espero, God reveals to me my purpose.  Purpose 1: boy repeating 2nd grade who clowns around to avoid the emotions of a hard upbringing, 2: troublemaker from the womb just looking for affirmation and attention from someone, ANYONE, 3: a girl sharing a small apartment with 3 siblings and a mom, just barely making it by, 4: girl enjoying time with her Dad who spenta good chunk of her life in jail and is finally out, 5: cousins who cling to each other because that is who they have, 6: girl who is timid and looking for a friend, 7: girl lacking boundaries and love, 8: girl just wanting affirmation that she is loved and alright, 9: girl overflowing with life and giving joy to all around her, 10: 9's table buddy wanting to fit in but being so different, 11: a fourth grader my project from two years ago who has built up a tough shell and rarely lets anyone to see the real her. 

And so today I remember: greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city.  I am here.  I am in His will and my life is being used for His Glory.  What more can a girl ask for?

If you're not from the prairie...

This is a book, Dave Bouchard, talks about our inability to understand the quintessential him because we don't know the prairie.  He describes things like a prairie cold, and if we have never experienced one, we don't know cold, we can't know cold.  His roots and experiences are so deep with the land that without understanding the prairie we do not and cannot understand him.  It is well written, and though I have never been to the prairie, I can identify with the sentiment.  As people, there are things at the very core of us that we cling to and without those experiences truly "knowing" someone is impossible.  This idea resonates because we desire to be known and understood and are utterly aware that even the people who know us best only see the topmost layers of the complexities beneath.  For me, if you have not shared uncontrollable laughter with children you don't know laughter, you can't know laughter.  If you have not broken bread with your dearest friends, you don't know friendship, you can't know friendship.  If you have not sat on a mountain peak in shear awe of creation, you don't know Peace, you can't know Peace.  These snapshots of beautiful life's moments remind me of the great things to KNOW and experience.  I am grateful to have a God who does truly know me, the number of hairs on my head, my inmost thoughts and the paths in which life will take me.  What is at the core of you?

and they lived happily ever after...

To recount the current chick flicks of late: 2 girls have been riding on bicycles and run over by their soon-to-be-soul mates, some have become pregnant then met the man of their dreams, some have been whisked away to undesired locations only to be saved by some knight in shining armour.  Watching one of these romantic movies can leave any girl midst a cloud of dream and fantasy.  To be whisked away is the dream of almost every girl, but the more and more I spend a girls night watching a chick flick the more I desire something greater.  Sitting in yoga today, I got to meditate on this song.  A reminder of a romance that won't disappoint, that creates a greater satisfaction than any I-can't-believe-its-not-butter man will ever give. Don't get me wrong, some day my man will come but he will not be my hope, I am already claimed.  Here it is for you to enjoy.